The original .45ACP used a 200-grain FMJ round nose bullet, but shortly after the end of WWI, it was upgraded to its current form, a 230-grain FMJ bullet, traveling at about 800 fps. It remained in this form, the load being designated by the US military as “Ball, M1911.”

In the decades since, the .45ACP has seen more action than any American handgun and most others in the world. But throughout its long career as a military, police and civilian defense cartridge, there was never any substantiated complaint about its performance. It was always accurate, fed flawlessly, very controllable and as long as the shooter did his part and hit his target, the .45ACP exhibited spectacular stopping power.